I tend to use books written by celebrities as palette cleansers, if you will, since I usually sandwich them in between two psychological thrillers. Because let’s be honest, reading murder mysteries back to back and get a bit much. I’ve complied a list of my top ten favorite books written by celebrities, and hope you’ll find them as great and somewhat useful as I did.
Ten Excellent Books Written by Celebrities
Bossypants by Tina Fey
So much useful, practical life advise for women compacted into one book. And of course, loved it for every ounce of improv / comedy nugget Tina provided. Great read. It’s still super popular for a reason. If you haven’t read it yet, GET YOURSELF A COPY!
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? and Why Not Me by Mindy Kaling
I love Mindy Kaling and her writing style, she’s hilarious, totally relatable, and so honest. I’m adding both her books to this list (though I liked Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? a tad better). Reading her books made me feel like some of my shameful, embarrassing life choices aren’t really that shameful, embarrassing, and as uncommon as I thought.
Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham
I know people either loved or hated HBO’s Girls, and that goes double for Lena Dunham herself. I’m in the LOVE camp. I think she has a fantastic way of articulating the real life struggles of a 20something woman in an urban city. I really enjoyed her book, but if you don’t vibe with Lena’s general style, I wouldn’t read this if I were you.
The Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
Seriously, say YES to this book. I loved Shonda’s story. It was very inspiring to start saying ‘yes’ to things that you’d normally shy away from whether it’s fear, laziness, or insecurity. Shonda is obviously a talented writer and her humor and sarcasm comes across really nicely.
Naked and Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris
My husband introduced me to David Sedaris a few years ago, and I’ve been hooked ever since. I’m adding my two favorite books by him. They’re fun to read and there’s somewhat of a magical component to them, I don’t know, I can’t explain. David Sedaris just has this charm about him, and his story telling is spectacular.
One More Thing by B.J. Novak
B.J. Novak is such a talented and hilarious writer. One More Thing is a book filled with short stories (mostly fiction) that will have you laughing out loud. I read this in one day, during a snow storm last year. Highly recommend if you’re looking for something easy, but witty and still intelligently done.
What I Know for Sure by Oprah Winfrey
Oh my gosh, I loved this. It was a beautiful book with heartwarming stories and advice from Ms. Oprah herself. As I was reading this, I remember thinking SELF CARE! And made a mental note to schedule a mani/pedi and go for a long walk.
Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari
This was so so so so interesting, and if you are currently or have used online dating / dating apps it’s a very relatable read. My husband and I met on match.com in 2014, and while yes, we are a success story, we can both attest to how freaking awful and painful the online dating process is. It was VERY eye-opening.
The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer
OK, so Amy Schumer’s book is technically number eleven on this list, but I finished her book earlier this year and knew I needed to include it. I’ve always had a soft spot for Amy Schumer. I can’t explain it. Either way, Amy is very vulnerable and honest, yet it’s still a fun and light read. But if you’re not a fan of her work, maybe skip this one.
Note: I’ve also read Arianna Huffington, Chelsea Handler, Drew Barrymore, Amy Poehler, and James Franco’s novels. But I’ve leaving them off this list for one reason or another, mainly because they were just OK.